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Eastern Colombia – Where the Llanos Meets the Amazon

1 Jun 2020 - 11 Jun 2020 (11 days)

This exciting tour takes in the east Andean foothills, the best of the Llanos and the fringes of the Colombian Amazon. Diversity will be impressive as we take in habitats from high Andean temperate forest at 2500m to lowland Llanos floodplains and Amazonian Varzea forests at 400m. Add in open Savannah and foothill forest and you have the recipe for the perfect tour.

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Dates: 1 Jun 2020 - 11 Jun 2020 (11 days)

Limit: 7 people

Level:

What our clients say

“Nature Colombia put together a great birding tour for us that went like clockwork. All arrangement and logistics fell neatly and smoothly into place. Our guides and drivers were all brilliant. Oh, and the birds were fantastic! We can't wait to get back to do it all again and see more”

-Richard Thaxton-

Animals you might see on this tour

Crested Quetzal

Keel-billed Toucan

Yellow-headed Caracara

Itinerary

Day 1: Monterredondo

We will have an early start and head to the highland forests of Monteredondo. Here we will target mixed flocks, which can hold many highland species including Black-collared Jay, Northern Mountain Cacique, Grass-green Tanager and Sulphur-bellied Tyrannulet. The endemic Cundinamarca Antpitta is present but is extremely hard to see – we may, however, come across a group of the endemic Brown-breasted Parakeet, while Black-and-chestnut Eagle and Rufous Antpitta are also possible.

In the afternoon we will drop down to Villavicencio at the base of the Eastern Andes.

Day 2: Villavicencio to Santa Maria

We will spend the morning birding in a forest near Villavicencio where we hope to find Red-stained Woodpecker, Yellow-billed Nunbird, Double-toothed Kite and Amazonian Motmot. In the late morning, we will begin the long drive to Santa Maria in the foothills of the Andes. We hope to arrive at Santa Maria in the late afternoon and will have a little time for birding in the environs of the town.

Day 3: Santa Maria.

We will spend the morning birding in the subtropical forest above Santa Maria. We have an outside chance of the rare Spot-winged Parrotlet while other species we may find include White-browed Antbird, Inca Jay, Western Woodhaunter and Red-headed Barbet.

In the afternoon we will bird some of the more open habitat near the town where we will look for commoner species such as Magpie Tanager, Yellow-tufted Woodpecker and Turquoise Jay.

Day 4: Santa Maria.

We will spend a second day in the forest hoping to find Bar-crested Antshrike. Rufous-winged Antwren, Speckled Chachalaca and both Rufous-and-white and Rufous-breasted Wren’s.

In the afternoon we will visit a Cock-of-the-Rock lek and check the mountain streams for Fasciated Tiger-heron.

Day 5: Santa Maria to Puerto Gaitán

We will spend the early morning in some lowland habitat where we may find Dusky Spinetail, Rufous-fronted Thornbird, Gilded Barbet and Chestnut-eared Aracari – we will then make a long drive out into the Llanos where we will spend the night.

Day 7: Llanos - Villavicencio.

We will spend the morning at the Reserve where we hope for species such as Orinoco Goose, White-bearded Flycatcher, Pale-headed Jacamar and a host of commoner wetland species. In the afternoon we will return to Villavicencio.

Day 8: Villavicencio to Guaviare

We head out from Villavicencio for the 5-hour drive to San Jose del Guaviare. We will make a few birding stops on-route and hope to arrive at the Guaviare in time for lunch.

In the afternoon we will bird near the town where we may find Horned Screamer, White-eared and Brown Jacamars, and Scarlet-crowned Barbet.

Day 9: Guaviare

We will spend the morning birding near the town looking for Cream-coloured Woodpecker, Long-billed Woodcreeper, Solitary Cacique and Large-billed Tern. We will return to the Hotel for lunch and a siesta and may visit some more open areas in the afternoon.

Day 10: Guaviare

We will head out to savanna habitat where we may find Russet-crowned and Ashy-throated Crakes, Red-shouldered Tanager, Short-tailed Swift and Lesser Elaenia. We will also visit a Guianan Cock-of-the-rock Lek and the more energetic may be able to visit some petroglyphs. In the afternoon we will visit another site near the town.

Day 11: Guaviare to Bogota.

We will have a final day birding in the San Jose area and then will catch a flight back to Bogota.